Northeast of Theta Gruis are four interacting galaxies known as the Grus Quartet. These galaxies are NGC 7552 ( at the top left, a lovely face-on barred spiral), NGC 7590 (in the middle), NGC 7599 and NGC 7582 (the pair at center right). The latter three galaxies occupy an area of sky only 10 arcminutes across and are sometimes referred to as the "Grus Triplet," although all four are part of a larger loose group of galaxies called the IC 1459 Grus Group. NGC 7552 and 7582 are exhibiting high starburst activity; this is thought to have arisen because of the tidal forces from interacting. Galactic cirrus are also visible in the bottom part of the image (text adapted from Wikipedia).

Apo TEC140 (140/f7.2) – FLI Proline 16803 – L (350m) R (120m) G (120m) B (120m) – Warrumbungle Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia

If you would like to see larger sizes of this image please visit my homepage at http://ift.tt/RJGXq5

via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/uBqTB8